Michael Dawson

Occasional England international Michael Dawson may currently be serving as Tottenham skipper but his performances this season have been some way short of captain-worthy.

Only growing more immobile as the 30 year-old reaches his veteran years, Dawson’s lack of pace has made him look like a fish out of water in the Lilywhites backline this year, especially amid the North London side’s regular defensive capitulations against the Premier League’s top sides.

The former Nottingham Forest trainee fought to keep his White Hart Lane career alive when Andre Villas-Boas took the Tottenham helm in summer 2012, but it’s unlikely he’ll have the same luck when Tim Sherwood is replaced this summer.

Should the new Spurs boss be keen to modernise philosophically, Dawson’s old-school defending will undoubtedly have to be left behind.

With his contract expiring in summer 2016 too, the coming window represents Tottenham’s best opportunity to get good value for their nine-year servant.

A link-up with former gaffer Harry Redknapp at QPR is a potential summer scenario – but that will largely depend upon the West London side obtaining Premier League status through the second-tier play-offs.